Combined ski tow and dock mooring



114-253. XR 393369894 SR A m- 96 .v LLEISNERI 3,336,894

COMBINE? SKI Tow AND DOCK moomue.

- Filed Ju y 26, 1965 j v- 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. IRA LE Orv/1RD E/SIVEI? BY /1 9 i? :W LMZQ -w A T TOR/V15 Y United States Patent one 3,336,894 Patented Aug. 22, 1967 This relates to a combined ski tow and mooring device for motor boats.

Lighter motor boats, such as those driven by Outboards, are frequently used for towing water skiers. The ski rope -is fastened at the rear of the boat and problems have arisen from interference by slack rope fouling the boats propeller, poor visibility of the rope and the like. To a certain extent the problems were ameliorated, if not solved, by using ropes made of material such as polyethylene and polypropylene, which are lighter than water, and therefore the rope would float on the water, making it less likely to foul the propeller; although if a boat makes a sudden turn when the rope is slack, even in such instances it is possible to tangle it with the propeller. It is also desirable to provide a horizontal pull on the rope, and this requires a higher location of the tow. It is also desirable to tow from the center line of the boat and not from one side or a bridle so that the boats steering is not affected.

Another problem is presented by the mooring of light motor boats. When these boats are moored at docks or floats, it is either necessary to occupy a larger space at the float or to use permanent attachments on the float, which are often in the form of V-shaped spring devices into which the bow of the boat is forced and held by a suitable line.

The present invention solves both problems by means of a single organization of elements and at the same time in preferred embodiment to perform additional functions. Essentially, the present invention comprises a U-shapcd member and brackets or other supports on or in the transom in the stern of a motor boat in which supports the U-shaped member slides vertically. In one position, when it is slid down in the brackets or supports, the U shapedmember extends above the transom and can be used as a high attachment for water ski towing lines and also, if desired, to support a temporary boat canopy. The lower ends of the uprights of the U-shaped member transmit stress to the transom of the boat, preferably through a pair of wheels or other similar elements which can be slid up and down without marring the transom, and in the position in which they are slid down they make firm contact with the transom so that in this position the bottoms of the U-shaped elements in the brackets hold he element upright with sufficient rigidity to serve as a useful ski tow attachment. At the same time, the mounting brackets are preferably provided with notches on their sides, or other means for pivoting the U-shaped member in the raised position, so that when the U-shaped member is raised it can turn to the rear, pivoting on the axle of the wheels or other pivoting means, and extend out in a horizontal position. In this position the upper part of the U-shaped member can be droppedinto clamps permanently attached to the dock or float, and the U-shaped member then constitutes a mooring for the boat. It prevents the boat from either being pulled away from the dock or forced back into contact therewith, and as the U-shaped member can pivot, there is a flexible connection so that when the boat moves up and down in response to wave action the U-shaped member pivots and does not exert any undue strain on the docking clamps.

The broad idea of a pivotable, rigid mooring member for boats is not new. In addition to the bow mooring which has been referred to above, it has been proposed to have a U-shaped member. permanently attached to the dock and catches on the transom of the boat. After a fashion, this performs some of the functions of the present invention when it is acting as amooring, but only to a 5 restricted extent. When waves strike a light, moored boat,

the transom of the boat moves up and down quite suddenly, and in the proposed pivoted device on the dock this can either jump out of the catches on the transom of the boat, allowing it to' drift, or exert excessive strains on the attachments to the boat. For this reason these devices have not achieved as much practical use as the bow mounting, which is springy and which is attached at only Jae point to the dock, is a standard method of mooring light motor boats end gn against a dock or float. While this is operative and is extensively used, it is not ideal be-v cause unless the springy V-shaped member is held very tightly against the bow of the boat or is provided-with very effective cushion faces, such as rubber, it moves somewhat and this can wear paint or varnish on the boat.

In the case of the present invention in its mooring aspect, the attachment of the lower ends of the U-shaped member to the transom of the boat permits pivoting, but

it cannot be jerked loose. Therefore, there is no risk of the boat becoming unmoored from steep wave action,

such as for example the wash of another boat. The catches on the dock do not present this same problem because the dock or float does not move up and down suddenly or violently under wave action, and all that is necessary is to permit the U-shaped member to turn somewhat in the brackets attached to the dock. In the case of a round cross section of a U-shaped member, this is of course very easy, but even if the member has a cross section which is not round, for example oval or rectangular, which has advantages for ski towing in that then is a g ater rig di y for the same amount of weight, the small amount of turning necessary in the dock brackets can be effected with a bracket which has an opening wider than the cross sec tion of the U'shaped member and preferably is provided with a soft lining, such as rubber and the like, which permits a small amount of turning of the U-shaped member without excessive wear and without binding. The problem is utterly different'than in the proposed U-shaped moorings which pivot on the dock, where they do not need the pivoting in wave action but do not pivot on the transom of the boat where responses to steep waves is at a maximum. In other words, as a mooring the present invention is an improved mooring and at the same time, without involving other elements, the function of an elevated ski tow is performed with the elimination of problems of propeller fouling from ski ropes which are fastened at a lower level and without affecting boat steering seriously.

Broadly the present invention is not concerned with 3 details in the cross section of the U-shaped member, and

it is an advantage of the present invention that any particular shape, such as rectangular solid, hollow round or hollow oval, may be employed as is dictated by the optimum requirements of any particular use.

When made for a particular boat or a particular size of boat transom, the U-shaped member may be in a single piece and for many uses this presents practical advantages. It is inexpensive and possesses a maximum of rigidity and strength. However, the invention is in no sense limited to such a construction and the U-shaped member may be in two pieces which telescope in the horizontal part. Although somewhat less rigid and in some forms sometimes more expensive. it. 0 piece construction has advantages in that beats with tr; soms or somewhat varying widths can be accommooa'ed with the same model of bar and brackets. Also, a minor advantage of a smaller shipping container is likewise achieved. The fact that'the I I-shaped member may be of quite varied forms adds advantageous flexibility to the presentinvention. Thus the uprights also may be in more than one piece and may be mooring device, it is possible to provide some additional attachments which permit the invention to perform additional functions. Typical of such an attachment is a step or a pair of movable steps which can slide up or down on the upright portions of the U-shaped member, be

permits pivoting about the horizontal part of the U-shaped member 3 is shown fastened inbrackets 13 on a dock or float 14, a portion of j the comer of which is shown broken away to illustrate the positioning of the horizontal portion of the U-shaped I member in the brackets 13. Catches 15, which are shown somewhat diagrammatically as spring catches, permit the member 3 to be dropped into the brackets but prevent its bouncing out of them. It should be noted that the catches can be fairly light and the member 3 can enter them without application of any substantial force, as the catches do not have to hold against strong, sudden upward movements as is the case with the proposed devices where the U-shaped member was pivoted on the dock and catches were on the boat.

, i; the drawings. the upright member 3 is shown as a one piece rectangular bar. This requires a certain width in the brackets 13 and they are provided with rubber linclamped in position and provided with foldingleg porvtions which can be unfolded and enter into sockets on the transom of the boat. When the leg or legs are unfolded with the U-shaped member in the horizontal position, this provides a firm platform which is frequently useful when repairs on an outboard motor have to be made that are not easily reached from inside the boat; for example if it is necessary to replace a shear pin in the outboard propeller or toput a new propeller on, this can 'be done elfectively from a platform which extends in effect somewhat beyond the transom of the boat. Also, in the case of heavy Outboards such a platform permits an efl'ective stance for a second person to aid in lifting a heavy motorout of the boat. When used for mooring to a dock, ordinarily the supporting legs are folded up as otherwise the structure would be rigid and the boat could not respond to wave action. However, if there are no steep waves, when removing a heavy motor the legs can be temporarily inserted in the sockets and used to help remove the heavy motor. When in the mooring position with the supporting legs folded up, the foot rests help in entering the boat and this additional function is of advantage where it is desired to enter the boat from the stern.

While the present invention is concerned with the elements which are to be mounted on the boat, it should be understood that in performing its twofunctions, and if desired the additional ones of forming a supporting platform, the mountings must be attached to the transom of the boat itself and in this aspect one may consider that the boat transom is actually a part of the mechanism, albeit a passive part.

The invention will be described in greater detail in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a view of a boat moored to a dock;

FIG. 2 is a view of the same boat with the U-shaped member in its upright position as a ski tow, and

FIG. 3 is a detail on an enlarged scale of an upright portion of the U-shaped element and its bracket.

Turning to FIG. 1, a light motorboat is shown at 1. As the shape of the boat is of no concern to the present invention, it is shown more or less diagrammatically and not to true scale. Similarly, the outboard motor is shown purely diagrammatically in dashed lines, as'the present invention does not change in the slightest the attachment of the outboard motor to the transom. This forms no part of the present invention and is merely shown in the drawings to illustrate the relative position of the motor and the steps on the mooring element for use in motor repair work.

On the transom 2 of the boat there are mounted two brackets 4 with openings in their bottoms and notches 5 at the top of which the bottoms of the uprights can turn when the U-shaped member is used as a mooring device. FIG. 1 shows the U-shaped member 3 inits dock mooring position. The uprights slide up until the wheels 7 on the axle pin 6 move up alongside the slots, and the pin ing 16 to permit a slight turning. If a round cross section of the member 3 is used, of course the bracket can have a rounded opening and the round horizontal portion of the member 3 can turn freely in it. The catch 15 is merely illustrative of one typical form and any other type of catch may be used. The particular design does not form any part of the present invention so long as it is of suitable construction to permit the horizontal portion of the member 3 to be inserted and to prevent it from bouncing out.

In FIG. 2 the member 3 is shown with its upright portions in their lower positions. In these positions the wheels 7, which are preferably resilient, for example rub her or other resilient plastic, bear firmly against the transom of the boat and do not mar it. At the same time the U-shaped member is now in the form of a fairly rigid structure and a ski tow line 17 is shown in the ball and slot fitting 8. This fitting provides for a recess for the ball and the slot in which the rope 17 is held. The actual ski hitch again does not form a particular part of the present invention, and any form of hitch which is suitable may be used. It is obvious of course that the hitch must not project above the horizontal portion of the member 3 to an extent that it would strike or otherwise damage the dock in the mooring position. Otherwise, any form of ski hitch may be used. It is even possible to do without any hitch at all where for example the end of the rope is provided with a snap hook or other fastening so that the rope can be wound around the horizontal portion of the membet 3. However, thewell known ball and slot fastening operates so well and smoothly that it is a desirable form to use and it is an advantage of the present invention that it can easily be mounted on the horizontal part of the U-shaped member 3.

The present invention fully meets the requirements of the American Water Ski Association that the tow rope be 3 to 4' above the water. The preferred modification of the present invention in which the upright portions 3 of the U-shaped member slide in brackets has an additional advantage. If it is to be sufiiciently long to clear a tilted outboard motor when in the mooring position, the upper portion would be too high above the water if it pivoted only at the brackets. This is undesirable as it would bring the hitch too high and would constitute so long a lever that an excessive bending moment would .result. In the preferred embodiment where the uprights slide down in the bracket, not only is there a transmission of stress to the bottom of the transom as well as to the brackets higher up, but the height in ski towing position is correct. At the same time the member is long enough for satisfactory dock mooring.

The attachable brackets specifically illustrated have the advantage that they can be 1; to raxtically any boat. However, some boats are wilt so that a well or other supporting means can be incorporated into the boat. In such a case the upright portions of the U-shaped member usually would have to be articulated so that they can upper end of the slot. The

pivot to the mooring position when the member is slid up. This requires a more complex member than the simple uprights with wheels and axles but it is entirely satisfactory for boats in which supports are built in a form requiring such a construction and, therefore, any supporting means are included in the broader aspects of the present invention.

. as a ski tow and when it is used for docking. However,

when it is desired to provide a stable platform for out board motor repairs and the like, the legs can be folded down as is shown in dashed lines in FIG. 1 and mount in the sockets 12. Although this position is illustrated in FIG. 1, it should be understood that this is not a position in which the legs should remain when the boat is docked for any period of time. Therefore, it is shown as dashed to indicate that this is an alternative position. If the foot rests 21 are permanently fixed in a particular position on the uprights of the member 3, the pivot 18 of course can be in the form of a pin instead of a bolt. Its function is obviously the same. When a modification of the present invention is used without foot rests, of course they are not present and in such a case it is also not necessary to have the sockets 12 on the transom of the boat.

In an open motorboat with no canopy, sometimes rain comes up and the present invention in another modification permits the use of the U-shaped member in its skitow position to support a canopy or tent. This is shown diagrammatically by two studs 19 on the member and corresponding studs 20 on the boat itself. The actual cloth canopy is not shown on the drawings as it would confuse the illustration. The canopy is not a part of the present invention and is merely mentioned as a further illustration of the flexibility and usefulness of the present invention to perform a number of functions on a light motor boat.

I claim:

1. A combined stern mooring device and ski tow comprising a U-shaped member, formed of a cross bar section and two leg sections, supports for mounting on the transom of a boat, the supports having openings through which the leg sections of the U-shaped member slide, the openings having solid material at least on the portion of the opening opposite the transom, means near the ends of the leg sections to transmit stress to the transom of the boat in a position when the leg sections are pushed down alga in the supports, the inside dimensions of the openings being suificiently near to the outside dimensions of the leg sections so that in the position when the leg sections are sliddown through the support opening the cross bar section is substantially locked against extensive horizontal iovement, and pivoting'means when the leg sections are slid up through the openings whereby when pivoted the U-shaped member extends out horizontally from the boat transom in mooring position. g

2. A device according to claim 1 in which the supports are in the form of brackets attachable to the upper portion of the boat transom and having openings through which the upright portions of the U-shaped membercan fjlide, and the upright portions are provided at their ends with wheels and axles to transmit stress to the bottom portion of the transon when the leg sections are slid down, and the brackets are provided with means for receiving the axles in the position where the uprights are slid up and permit pivoting of the U-shaped member to a substantially horizontal position.

3. A device according to claim 2 in which the axle carries resilient wheels bearing on the boat transom.

4. A device according to claim 1 in which the horizontal portion of the U-shaped member is provided with a water ski tow rope hitch.

5. A device according to claim 2 in which the cross bar section of the U-shaped member is provided with a water ski tow rope hitch.

6. A device according to claim 1 in which the upright portions of the U-shaped member are provided with steps attachedthereto so that the steps are above the transom top when the leg sections of the U-shaped member are slid down in the brackets and supporting legs pivoted and foldable upwardly flat against the leg sections of the U- shaped members, socket brackets on the transom positioned to receive said folding legs when unfolded and in such position constituting a firm platform comprising the two foot rests.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,920,598 1/1960 Nielsen 114-235 2,930,339 3/1960 Trnka 114-230 3,081,731 3/1963 McEvoy 114-230 3,110,331 11/1963 Buchanan 114-235 MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner. T. M. BLIX, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A COMBINED STERN MOORING DEVICE AND SKI TOW COMPRISING A U-SHAPED MEMBER, FORMED OF A CROSS BAR SECTION AND TWO LEG SECTIONS, SUPPORTS FOR MOUNTING ON THE TRANSOM OF A BOAT, THE SUPPORTS HAVING OPENINGS THROUGH WHICH THE LEG SECTIONS OF THE U-SHAPED MEMBER SLIDE, THE OPENINGS HAVING A SOLID MATERIAL AT LEAST ON THE PORTION OF THE OPENING OPPOSITE THE TRANSOM, MEANS NEAR THE ENDS OF THE LEG SECTIONS TO TRANSMIT STRESS TO THE TRANSOM OF THE BOAT IN A POSITION WHEN THE LEG SECTIONS ARE PUSHED DOWN IN THE SUPPORTS, THE INSIDE DIMENSIONS OF THE OPENINGS BEING SUFFICIENTLY NEAR TO THE OUTSIDE DIMENSIONS OF THE LEG SECTIONS SO THAT IN THE POSITION WHEN THE LEG SECTIONS ARE SLID DOWN THROUGH THE SUPPORT OPENING THE CROSS BAR SECTION IS SUBSTANTIALLY LOCKED AGAINST EXTENSIVE HORIZONTAL 